Head space sampler



March 26, 1968 M. E. MGGUCKIN 3,374,678

HEAD SPACE SAMPLER Filed Oct. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

March 26, 1968 M. E. MCGUCKIN HEAD SPACE SAMPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet.

Filed Oct. 14, 1965 ff/me,

United States Patent O 3,374,678 HEAD SPACE SAMPLER Melvin E. McGuckin, Rowland Heights, Calif., assignor to Hamilton Company, Whittier, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 496,104 21 Claims. (Cl. 7f3-421.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for securing uncontaminated samples of gasses or liquids in the head space of cans, bottles and other containers. A penetrating needle is used for gaining access to the interior of the container and withdrawing samples of the contents thereof.

This invention relates generally to sampling instruments and relates more particularly to instruments for sampling contents of closed or sealed containers without opening same.

While the invention has particular utility in connection with securing samples from sealed containers and is shown and described in such connection, it is to be understood that its utility is not confined thereto.

In certain industries, such as the ybrewing industry, the Wine industry and the soft drink industry, there is a need for securing uncontaminated samples of the head space gases in cans, bottles and similar containers for the products of such industries, for testing purposes, and there have been various difficulties involved in the problem of securing such samples for testing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide head space sample means which sol-ves the problem of securing such uncontaminated samples of the contents of cans, bottles, and similar containers for testing, even when said containers are sealed.

It is another object of the invention to provide means of this character wherewith uncontaminated samples of gases in the head space of such cans, bottles and other similar containers may be secured.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means of this character with which samples of other contents, such as liquids, in these containers may be secured without contamination of the samples.

In other words, gases or liquids maybe removed from the containers without contamination by the atmosphere, for example.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of this character having attaching supporting and/or steadying means with respect to the containers, whether cans, bottles or other containers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means of this character having a penetrating needle for gaining access to the interior of the container and withdrawing samples of the contents thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of this character having means for controlling the stroke of the needle or penetrating element.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means of this character wherein the means for controlling the length of the stroke is adjustable.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of this character having unique needle or penetrating element supporting means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means of this character having interchangeable head assemblies for use with ditierent types of containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of this character that is rugged, effective and reliable.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are ice further sufliciently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent certain embodiments. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a can sampler operably attached to a can;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of said can sampler;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adaptor for bottles having cO-rks;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the adaptor for bottles having corks, such as wine bottles;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the adaptor for bottles having crown bottle caps;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view thereof; and

FIG. 8 is a front end view of this adaptor as seen from line 8 8 of FIG. 7.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a can sampler having a tubular body 10 with a bore 12 therethrough. There is an internally threaded portion at the front and rear ends of the body, said threaded end portions being indicated at 14 and 16 respectively.

At the rear end 16 there is a retainer, indicated generally at 18, having an externally threaded body portion 20 and enlarged knurled head 22, said retainer being screwed into the internally threaded portion 16 to a point whereat the head engages the adjacent end of the body. Retainer 18 has a longitudinally or axially extending bore 24 therethrough for slidable reception of a plunger, indicated generally at 26.

Plunger 26 comprises a tubular shaft 28 slidable in the bore 24 of the retainer and a cylindrical head 30 at the inner end slidably tted in the bore 12 of the body 10 and adapted to stabilize, along with the retainer, the plunger when actuated. The outer end of the plunger has an externally threaded portion 32.

A handle or `plunger cross bar 34 is provided at the outer end of the plunger and includes an integral internally threaded socket 36 screwed onto the externally threaded end portion 32 of the plunger shaft. The handle has an internally threaded opening 38 in line with the socket 36 and in axial alignment with a passage 40 through the plunger in which a needle 42 is removably disposed, said needle having a passage 44 extending from the rear end to a point adjacent the forward end which is pointed or conical as indicated at 46. Just back of the conical end 46 there is a lateral bore 48, which may be a cross bore, providing communication from without the needle to the interior passage 44 thereof.

An outer end portion 50 of the needle is provided with a female lure hub or lure iittinrg, indicated generally at 52, which has a body S4 with an externally threaded part 56, the part 56 also having an axial bore 58 therethrough communicating with a tapered recess or socket 60 at the outer or rear end of said fitting. A rear end portion of the needle is secured in the ,bore 58 of the tting by soldering, brazing or other suitable means and the externally threaded part 56 is screwed into the internally threaded opening 38 of the handle 34. Thus the needle is securely connected with the handle 34, and hence the plunger.

At the forward end of the body there is a clamp assembly which includes an adaptor, indicated generally at 64,

outer side or end. The extension is screwed into the internally threaded portion 14 of the body 10'of the device to a point whereat the inner end of the adaptor body engages the adjacent end of the body The adaptor 64 has an axial bore 74 therethrough in which the forward end portion of the needle 42 is slidably guided and operably supported. The forward end of the head 70 of the adaptor is provided with an axial recess 76 in which is received a septum 7'8 in alignment with the needle and adapted to be penetrated by said needle and in sealing engagement therewith. Septum 78 is secured in the recess 76 by any suitable adhesive such as an epoxy cement and it is to be noted that the thickness of the septum is greater than the depth of the recess 76 so that said septum extends forwardly of the plane of the front face 80 of the head 70 of the adaptor which is normal to the axis of said adaptor. j

Within the bore y12 of the body 10 are a plurality of longitudinally spaced guides slidably disposed in said bore 12, said guides being indicated at 81a and 81b. Each of these guides has a hub 82 with a flange 84 intermediate the ends thereof, the lian-ges slidingly engaging the wall of said bore 12.

Head 30 of the plunger has a forwardly facing recess 86 therein for reception of an end portion of a spring 88, said recess serving as a spring retainer. The opposite end of the spring 88 is disposed on the rear hub portion of the adjacent guide 81a which hub portion also serves as a spring'retainer, the last mentioned end reacting against the adjacent side of the flange 84, this guide being spaced longitudinally forwardly of the head 30 of the plunger.

A second spring, indicated at 90, is disposed between the guides l81a and 81b with the end portions disposed on the facing hub portions. There is a third spring 92 with a rear end portion disposed on the forward hub portion of guide 81h, a forward end portion of said spring being received in a recess 94 in the reduced diameter extension 68 of the adaptor 64.

These guides have axially extending openings therethrough in which the needle is slidably disposed, said guides not only guiding the intermediate part of the needle but prevent it from bending. When the plunger is actuated forwardly the needle is, of course, correspondingly moved and the guides `81a and 81b move forwardly under the inuence of the springs 88 and 90, which are somewhat compressed as the plunger moves forwardly, said 'guides moving longitudinally in the bore 12 of the body 10 a lesser distance than the distance the needle moves, the springs 88, 90 and 92 permitting a certain amount of lost motion between the needle and said guides. Reverse movement of the needle results in reverse movement of the guides.

There is a collar 100 disposed on the plunger shaft 28 and is slidable thereon, there being a radially extending tapped bore 102 in said collar in which is threadably disposed a screw 104 for securing the collar in adjusted positions on said shaft. The collar provides adjustable means for limiting forward movement of the plunger and needle.

Clamp means is provided for the forward end of the device and comprises what is termed a fixed clamp member, indicated generally at 105, which has a central portion 106 with an opening 108 therethrough for reception of the body 10 of the device, said opening having an er1- larged diameter forwardly facing part 110A in which is received the head 70 of the adaptor. 'Ihere is a shoulder 112 between the part 108 of the opening and the `part 110, said shoulder engaging a peripheral part of the head 70 of the adaptor 64.

From the central part 106 there are a pair of oppositely extending arms 116, each of said arms having a longitudinally extending slot 118 therein for slidable reception of respective bolts or screws 120 therein having wing nuts 122 thereon for tightening said screws.

There is a movable clamp member, indicated generally at 124, for each arm 116, each of said movable clamp member 124 having a part 126 parallel to its adjacent arm and a part 128 at the outer end extending toward said adjacent arm and engaging same. Each of said movable clamp members has a hole130 in the part 126 for reception of its screw 120, there being a counter sink 1 32 for reception of the head 134 of the screw, said head being brazed or welded or otherwise secured to the part 126 of the movable clamp member 124 as indicated at 136. The inner end 138 of the part 126 of each clamp member is concavely curved for better engagement with a can.

To operate this arrangement the collar is adjusted for the desired needle penetration and the screw 104 tightened. The clamp member is placed on the top of a can from which a sample is to be taken. With the screws loose, the movable clamp members are moved into engagement with the cylindrical side wall of the can and the screws tightened by means of the wing nut 122 so that the movable clamp members are tight against the wall 140 of the can, with the inner ends beneath the bead 142 of the can. The septum or seal 78 is then tight against the top 144 of the can. Also, the point 46 of the needle is slightly spaced from the top of the can.

With the parts thus positioned the needle is forced downwardly by means of the handle 34 so that it passes through the septum and penetrates the can top, as best shown in FIG. 2. The amount of penetration of the can top is limited by the collar which has been adjustably positioned on the shaft 28 for the desired penetration of said can top. With a shallow penetration of the can top 'gas may be drawn olf, the gas entering the needle by way of the cross lbore or opening 48 and passing outwardly through the needle passage 44. The gas may be carried away by a conduit 146 having a male connector 148 attached thereto and disposed in the socket 60. Or, the gas may be drawn into a syringe having a tip which is inserted into said socket 60.

Where a liquid sample is to be drawn off, the collar 100 is set for a greater depth of penetration of the can top and the needle is moved into the liquid contents of the can. The sample is then taken either by reason of the gas pressure in the can or drawn out by means of a syringe or other suitable means.

For some types of sample taking, a valve 150 is used,

said valve having a male connector tip inserted into thev socket 60. Thus gas ow from the can may be readily controlled.

When the needle has been forced into the top lof the can, as best shown in FIG. 2 it is held therein by friction. When the sample or samples are taken the needle is pulled from the can and the springs 88, 90 and 92 return plunger and needle to the normal outermost position.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the adaptor for bottles having `corks is indicated generally at 156. This adaptor has an externally threaded part 158 with a spring retaining recess 160 therein, part 158 being screwed into the forward end of body 10. At the outer end of the part 158 is an enlarged head 162 which is knurled, said head having a plurality of longitudinally extending, pin receiving bores 164 therein open at the forward ends and spaced apart about the axis of the head 162. Pins 166 are secured in the respective bores 164 by press tting or other suitable means, said pins having sharp pointed conical free ends of tips 168.

Tov operate this arrangement the pins 166 are Kforced into the outer end of the cork of a bottle, such as a wine bottle for example. The needle is then forced through the cork to the desired extent which is limited by engagement of the collar 100, previously adjustably set, engaging the outer rear end of the retainer 18 at the rear of the body 10.

A sample or samples of either the gas at the top of the bottle, or liquid in the bottle, or both separately, is then taken as described above in connection with the can sampler.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, there is shown an adaptor for crown types of seals such as are used on -beer bottles and soft drink bottles.

This device includes an externally threaded cylindrical body 170 with a spring retaining recess 172 in the rear end. A portion of the body is screwed into the internally threaded end portion 14 of the body 10. A lock ring or nut having an internally threaded axial opening therein is screwed onto the body and tightly against the forward end of the body to lock the adaptor to said body.

A sealing septum 174 is secured in a recess 176 provided therefor in the front free end of the body 170, said septum being secured by a suitable adhesive such as that used to secure the septum 78 in the recess 76 in the can sampling adaptor.

There is a crown seal engaging member, indicated generally at 180, which includes a wall 182 having an internally threaded opening 184 therein for threadable reception of the -body 170, the 4member 180 being screwed onto the body 170 to a position whereat the forward end of the body 170 extends forwardly of the wall 182, as best shown in FIG. 7. 'There is a fiange 186 exending forwardly of the Wall 182 which defines a U-shaped recess 188. A plate 190 is secured to the front end of the ange 186 by any suitable means such as screws 192 received in openings provided therefor in plate 190 and in respective aligned tapped holes in the front end of the fiange 186.

Plate 186 is provided with a notch 196 extending from one edge and open at said edge. There is a marginal area 198 along said notch which overlaps the recess 188, as best shown in FIG. 7, whereby the recess forms a socket for reception of a crown seal as described more fully hereinafter. This marginal edge portion engages the crimped or other free edge of the crown seal when the adaptor is operably attached to said crown seal.

To operate this sampler the needle must lbe drawn back far enough to clear the top of the crown seal, as shown in FIG. 7. The neck of the bottle from which a sample is to be taken is inserted in the notch 196 with the crown seal disposed in the recess 188. The crown seal or cap is in line with the needle and the crown seal engaging member is screwed onto the body 170 until the septum sealingly engages the top of said crown seal and clamps same between said septum and the marginal edge portion or area 198 of the plate 190. The plunger is then forced forwardly and the needle forced into the crown seal. The position of the needle in the bottle is determined by the position of the collar 100 and the sample taken is either gas or liquid depending upon the position of the cross bore 48 in the bottle. Samples are taken in the same manner as heretofore described.

As used herein the term container is intended to include the cover or the cap parts.

The termn cover as used herein is intended to include caps such as crown caps, for example.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangements hereinbefore described being merely by Way of example, and I do not wish to be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claims, wherein various portions have been separated for clarity of reading and not for emphasis.

I claim:

1. In a sampler for sampling the contents of iuid containers and the like:

(A) a body;

(B) means secured to one end of said body and carried thereby ,for operable attachment to a part of a container the contents of which is to be sampled;

(C) and a needle operably carried by said body for longitudinal movement with respect thereto and having a pointed end positioned at said one end of the body, said pointed end being positioned for penetration of a part of a container the contents of which is to be sampled, said needle having a fluid passage therein communicating with the exterior of said needle adjacent said pointed end.

2. The invention defined by claim 1, including means for limiting the amount of penetration of the container part by said needle.

3. 'Ihe invention defined by claim 1, including a needle guide having a forwardly facing end, and a seal on said forwardly facing end through which said needle slidably and sealingly extends.

4. The invention defined Iby claim 1 wherein said means comprises clamp means for clamping engagement with a part -of a container the contents of which is to be sampled.

5. The invention defined `by claim 4, including a septum attached to said means in alignment with said needle for penetration by and sealing engagement with said needle, said septum being mounted for sealing engagement with the part of the container to be penetrated by the pointed end of the needle when the clamp means is clamped tightly to said part of the container, said septum thereby providing sealing means preventing escape of fiuid past the exterior of the part of the can about the point of penetration by the needle as well as preventing escape of fluid about and past the exterior of the needle.

6. In a sampler for securing samples of fluids from containers:

(A) a tubular body having a passage therethrough;

(B) adaptor means including a fixed needle guide secured in the front end of said passage, said guide having a longitudinal bore therethrough;

(C) a plunger assembly including a plunger operably disposed in the body passage for slidable movement therein a rear portion of said plunger extending outwardly of the rear end of said passage, said plunger having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough;

(D) a handle on the rear end of said plunger and comprising part of the plunger assembly;

(E) an elongated needle having a rear end portion disposed in the bore of said plunger, said needle having a pointed tip at the forward end and having a fluid passage extending longitudinally from the rear end to a point adjacent said pointed tip, there being a klateral fluid port connecting the fiuid passage of the needle with the exterior thereof adjacent said pointed tip, said needle being slidably disposed in the bore of the needle guide;

(F) a connector secured to the rear end of the needle,

said connector being secured to the plunger assembly;

(G) needle guide means slidably disposed in the passage of the body and including spring means urging said needle guide means in opposite directions, said needle guide means slidably carrying said needle and having a lost motion relationship with said needle;

(H) and adaptor means, including said fixed needle guide, said fixed needle guide being lremovably secured in the front end of the passage of the tubular body, said adaptor means also including means for operably connecting the front end of the sampler to a container the contents of whichis to be sampled.

7. The invention defined by claim 6, wherein said adaptor means includes a clamp for clamping attachment to a part of said container.

8. The invention defined by claim 6 wherein said adaptor means includes a clamp for clamping attachment to a can.

9. The invention defined by claim 6 wherein said adaptor means includes a clamp for clamping attachment to a crown type of bottle closure.

10. The invention defined by claim 6 wherein said adaptor means includes pointed pin means for penetration of the cork of a corked bottle.

11. The invention dened by claim 10, including means adjustable on the plunger for limiting the forward movement of said plunger.

12. A-n adaptor, including:

(A) a body having means for attachment of the rear portion to a needle actuating mechanism, said body having a bore therethrough for slidable reception of a penetrating needle, the forward end of said body having a recess about the adjacent forward end of said bore;

(B) a septum secured in said recess and having a needle receiving opening therein for sealing engagement with said needle, said septum extending forwardly of the forward end o'f said body;

(C) and clamping means having a clamp member attached to said body, said clamping means being for clamping to a can.

13. An adaptor, including:

(A) a body having means for attachment of the rearv portion to a needle actuating mechanism, said body having a bore therethrough for slidable reception of a penetrating needle;

(B) and at least one sharp pointed pin secured to said body and extending forwardly from the forward end of said body.

14. An adaptor, including:

(A) a body having means for attachment of the rear portion to needle actuating mechanism, said body having a bore therethrough for slidable guiding reception of a penetrating needle, the forward end of said body having a recess about the adjacent forward end of said bore;

(B) a septum secured in said recess, said septum eX- tending forwardly of the forward end of said body;

(C) and cap engaging means including (a) walls defining a socket open at one side and adjustably secured on said body with the forward end of said body extendable into said socket,

(b) and one of the walls of said socket being at the front and having a notch extending from one side with opening of said notch at the open side of said socket, said notch being adapted to receive the neck of'a bottle with the cap disposed within said socket and having a free edge cngageable with portions f said front wall adjacent the notch thereof.

15. In a sampler for sampling the contents of uid containers and the like:

(A) a body;

(-B) means secured to one end of said body for operable attachment to a part of a container the contents of which is to be sampled;

(C) a needle operably carried by said body for longitudinal lmovement and having a pointed end positioned at one end of the body, said pointed end being positioned for penetration of a part of a container the contents of which is to be sampled, said needle having a fluid passage therein communicating with the exterior of said needle adjacent said pointed end;

(D) needle guide means attached to said one end of the body, said needle guide means having a longitudinal bore therethrough slidably receiving the adjacent portion of the needle;

(E) and a plurality of pins secured to said needle guide means in spaced relation about said bore and having longitudinally outwardly extending pointed ends for penetration into a cork or the like of a corked bottle.

16. In a sampler for sampling the contents of fluid containers and the like:

(A) a body; (B) means secured to one end of said body for operable attachment to a part of a container the contents of which is to be sampled, said means including clamp means having -a xed clamp member, andV oppositely arranged movable clamp members operably carried by said fixed clamp member, said movable clamp members having end portions for engagement of the side wall of a can having an end bead, said movable clamp members engaging said can side wall beneath said bead;

(C) and a needle operably carried by said body for longitudinal movement and having a pointed end positioned at said one end of the body, said pointed end being positioned for penetration of a part of a container the contents of which is to be sampled, said needle having a fluid passage therein communicating with the exterior of said needle adjacent said pointed end.

17. In a sampler for sampling the contents of uid containers and the like:

(A) a body; Y

(B) means securedto one end of said bodyfor operable attachment to apart of a container the contents of which is to be sampled, said means including walls `defining a socket having a side opening for insertion therein of the free end of a Ibottle neck having a cap on the free end of the neck of the bottle, said cap being positioned within the socket and the adjacent neck portion bein-g received in the end opening,

a portion of the walls dening said socket engaging the free edge of the cap, and means movable into clamping engagement with the cap to clamp same against said portion of the walls defining said socket; (C) and a needle operably carried by said body for longitudinal vmovement and having a pointed endV positioned at said one end of the body, said pointed s end of the needle being positioned for penetration of said cap of the container the contents of which is to be sampled, said needle hav-ing a uid passage therein communicating with the exterior of said needle adjacent -said pointed end.

18. In a sampler for sampling the contents of fluid containers and the like:

(A) a tubular body having a passage extending longitudinally therein;

(B) a plunger operably disposed in said passage, said plunger having a longitudinally extending bore;

(C) means secured to one end of said body for operable attachment to a part of a container the contents of which is to be sampled;

(D) and a needle a portion of which is received in the bore of the plunger, said needle being secured to said plunger whereby longitudinal movements of the plunger effect corresponding movements of the needle, said needle having a pointed end positioned at said one end of the body, said pointed end of the needle being positioned for penetration of a part of a container the contents of which is to be sampled, said needle having a fluid passage therein communicating with the exterior of said needleadjacent said pointed end.

19. The invention defined by claim 18, including a plurality of needle guides having axial openings therethrough for slidable recept-ion of the needle, said needle guides being slidably mounted in longitudinally spaced relation in the passage of said body ahead of the inner forward end of the plunger; and sprin-gs providing yielding connections between the forward end of the plunger, and the adjacent needle guide, between the guides; and a spring retainer adjacent the forward end of the body, one of said springs having one end received by said spring retainer, the other end of said spring being received by a part of the adjacent -spring guide.

20. The invention defined by claim 19, including a connector secured to the end of the needle opposite the pointed end.

10 21. In a portable, manually operable sampler for samwith the exterior of said needle adjacent said pointed pling the contents of uid containers and the like: end;

(A) a body; (D) and means, including a handle, for longltudinally (B) means secured to one end of said body and carried actllafmg Sald needlethereby for operable attachment to va part of a con- 5 References Cited tainer the contents of which is to be sampled; (C) a needle opel-ably carried by said body for longi- UNITED STATES PATENTS tudinal movement and having a pointed end posi- 2,786,355 3/ 1957 Day et al. 73-421.5

tioned at said one end of the body, said pointedend 3,203,248 8/ 1965 Stlller et a1. 73-421-5 being positioned for penetration of a part of a con- 10 Q.

'rainer the contents of which is to be sampled, said LOUIS R' PRINCE Pumary Examiner' needle having a fluid passage therein communicating S' C- SWISHER, Examiner- 

